Nuri Sahin has vowed to fight for his place at Real Madrid after a disappointing first year at the Bernabeu.
Midfielder Sahin joined Real from Borussia Dortmund but played just 642 minutes as Jose Mourinho’s side swept to their first league title in four years.
The 23-year-old has been linked with a move back to his native Turkey with Galatasaray reportedly considering a bid but Sahin is adamant he wants to stick it out in Spain.
“I will not return to Turkey, my dream is still Real,” he said.
“I was on the list of players who disappointed last season and I know the fans expect more from me. But I can do better if I do not have any injuries.”
Extra time for Bayern players
Bayern Munich’s players will be given additional time to get over their Champions League final disappointment before linking up with the Germany squad.
Germany coach Joachim Loew has included eight Bayern players in his provisional squad for Euro 2012, the majority of whom are training in the south of France, but they will not be put under pressure to arrive before the weekend as initially planned.
“The tendency is now going towards varying things a little to give them a bit of breathing space,” the national team’s general manager Oliver Bierhoff said yesterday.
“But they should all be here by Saturday or Sunday at the latest.”
Giovinco to play waiting game
Parma forward Sebastian Giovinco will wait until after Euro 2012 to make a decision about his future.
The Italy international is part-owned by Juventus and has been strongly linked with a move away from Parma this summer.
“Sebastian Giovinco is very calm,” the player’s agent Andrea D’Amico said.
“He is evaluating his future. He will go where he feels he is a wanted man and he can show-case his talent.
“He has offers from Italy and from abroad, including a recent one from Barcelona. But it is still too soon and everything will be decided after the Euros.”
Given injured
Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given has undergone a scan after suffering a knee injury.
The 121-times capped goalkeeper hurt his knee in training and is expected to sit out two to three days of this week’s preparations in Malahide, outside Dublin.
“Shay Given picked up a minor knee injury in training yesterday (Monday),” a FAI spokesman said.
“After undergoing a scan, it was concluded that the goalkeeper should sit out training for the next 2-3 days for precautionary measures.”
Palacio joins Inter from Genoa
Genoa’s Argentina striker Rodrigo Palacio will play for Serie A rivals Inter next season, his club president Enrico Pre-ziosi said yesterday.
“Palacio is at Inter, we’ve reached an agreement,” Pre-ziosi told Sky Sport 24.
The 30-year-old Palacio scored 19 goals for Genoa last season as the club narrowly missed the drop.
He joins Inter’s large Argentinian contingent including Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cam-biasso, Diego Milito, Walter Samuel, Riccardo Alvarez and Mauro Zarate.
Havelange discharged from hospital
FIFA’s former president Joao Havelange has been discharged after two months in Rio’s Samaritano hospital where he was being treated for an ankle infection along with cardiac and pulmonary problems.
Joao Mansur Filho, head of the hospital’s coronary unit, said the 96-year-old Havelange had shown “favourable clinical (cardiac and pulmonary) conditions” to be allowed to leave.
The former FIFA head was admitted to the hospital on March 18.
Havelange resigned as a member of the International Olympic Committee in December after 48 years, just days before an ethics hearing into allegations of corruption.
Lille want to keep Joe Cole for next season
Lille coach Rudi Garcia said he would love to have midfielder Joe Cole back for next season provided they reach agreement with Liverpool.
The 30-year-old has returned to Anfield after a season on loan at the 2011 Ligue 1 champions where he scored four times in 27 appearances and Garcia admitted he would be interested in having him back.
“From a sporting angle we would like to keep him,” said Garcia.
“But he does not belong to us and he has not discussed matters with Liverpool. It is a very fluid situation.
“The only certainty for the moment is that he is returning to Liverpool.”